CINCINNATI —  Early voting for the May primary is now underway. As voters start to turn in their ballots, there are some new changes this year, including one that, if not followed, could get you a felony charge. 

What You Need To Know

  • Early voting for the May 6 election is going on now through May 4

  • Election officials are warning of a new Ohio law that requires you to come in and sign a form if you're dropping off a ballot for someone else 

  • Election officials are monitoring drop boxes with security cameras to enforce the law, not following it could result in a felony charge 

Tuesday was the first day of early voting, and Rick Levering was ready for it.

“I was a trainer, I’ve worked the polls, I’ve trained other poll workers,” said Levering. 

The longtime poll worker is charged with enforcing the rules during the vote. 

“We have our layout here where we have lines where people go and certain sections where we send people to vote and then where their scanners are to scan their ballots so we try to keep it organized," said Levering. 

And there’s one statewide rule change that the Hamilton County Board of Elections office has been keeping eye on.

"Our drop box is under video surveillance," said Sherry Poland, Hamilton County Board of Elections director. 

Poland said there are cameras at the ballot drop box in part to enforce a new Ohio law.

“Under Ohio law, you can return someone else's ballot as long as they are a member of your family but when returning that ballot on behalf of a family member, you will have to come in to the board of elections and return it during our normal business hours," said Poland. 

She said you’re supposed to come in to return someone else’s ballot so you can fill out a form attesting to it.

The drop box warns what could happen if you don’t.

“It is a felony to return someone else's ballot in our drop box," said Poland. "This wasn't an issue that we saw last November we didn't have problems with it, people want to follow the law has been my experience, they want to do the right thing to have their their ballot counted."

If you’re coming in person to vote, she’s also reminding voters to bring ID. This primary election, that ID can show you’re younger than 18. She says you can be 17, turning 18 by November, and vote on the candidates, but not the issues. 

When you do go to vote, poll workers like Levering are hoping to keep it running smoothly even with the changes.

“I think voting is very important, it's for our democracy and our society, it's very important that we vote," said Levering.